Learning to Organize and Minimalize - Suggestions and Ideas?

January 25, 2013 2:18pm CST
A couple of months ago, I became determined to de-clutter my house, which then led to an interest (okay, at times an obsession) to learn to minimalize. Now, like most new habits, I started out full-steam ahead, but I now falter. The house is much less cluttered, true, but, though we have delivered bags and bags of stuff to Goodwill, I still feel that there is too much crap in my house. Some things I will not throw out (ie. baby clothes b/c we plan to have more children, furniture for the new house we are currently trying to find, etc); but there are other things I am not certain how to begin clearing out. For instance, my daughter is almost two and loves her toys. Some things I have put away to rotate in and out, but we have the inevitable little things that collect. A little stuffed animal here, a little rattle there, and the list goes on. My daughter goes through stages where she plays with something for a bit, forgets about it, and goes back to it in a month. How do I begin getting rid of things? What if those things were given by an aunt or a grandmother? I don't want to hurt feelings, but.... Then, there are shirts I hardly ever wear, that aren't that nice, but are great for bum-about wear or to wear under other shirts. I don't want to be wasteful and I don't have money to go buy a new wardrobe, but I feel that these shirts just sit in my closet. So, you see my problem...I have been organizing and throwing out, but have hit a plateau. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of how to keep moving ahead in this goal to live a simpler life?
2 people like this
2 responses
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
26 Jan 13
TOYS: give away toys only if your daughter allowed it. Ask her the importance of giving and sort out toys she would love giving away, the broken ones are to be thrown not to be given away. SHIRT: if you don't have enough wardrobe why is it then you have these shirts just sitting in the closet. Give away too. HOUSEHOLD THINGS: Extra plates, recycle, make a plant tray out of them. Or give away.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
26 Jan 13
Her daughter is not quite two...I think she should be left out of the decision making process of this project.
• United States
25 Jan 13
They say if you don't wear it within the last six months to get rid of it. I did exactly what you are doing. I kept clothes in my closet that I just never wore, but it was always...what if? I gave them to the thrift store and I don't miss them at all. As far as your daughters toys, pick a few you'd like to keep, even if it's for the sentimental value of it, and give the rest away. Your daughter will keep getting older so newer toys will take the place of the old one's.